A Pictorial History of the Playboy Gala Christmas Issue: 1953-2009 [57 Photos]

“If you’re a man between the ages of 18 and 80, Playboy is meant for you. If you like your entertainment served up with humor, sophistication and spice, Playboy will become a very special favorite.” Hugh Hefner could not have been more correct. Fifty-six years ago this month in a kitchen in Chicago, Hefner and Eldon Sellers launched Playboy Magazine and forever changed the way the world looks at women. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we have compiled every December Playboy Cover printed since it’s conception in 1953. Times have changed a great deal since then, but thankfully for us, Playboy has stayed true to Hef’s original vision.